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CHAPEL HILL – No. 6 North Carolina used a five-run burst in the bottom of the seventh inning to break open a tight game and ended Gardner-Webb's season-opening win streak with an 11-5 win Tuesday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium.

Gardner-Webb (13-1) rallied to tighten the game in the middle innings after falling behind 6-0 early.

The Runnin' Bulldogs got on the board in the top of the fifth, getting a leadoff double from Collin Thacker and a long, two-run home run to left from Danny Sullivan to make the score 6-2. A walk by Eric Jones and a sharp single by Chandler Redmond kept the rally alive, but reliever A.J. Bogucki came on to stem the tide with a double play.

GWU struck twice more in the sixth, as Taylor Fisher led off with a single. Tyler Best beat out a potential double play ball to keep a man on board, and Paul Trick belted an RBI double to right center for a 6-3 score. Trick moved to third on a wild pitch with Thacker at the plate, and scored on Thacker's RBI single through the right side to trim the lead to 6-4.

Bogucki again worked out of the jam, but Gardner-Webb used some two-out magic to pull within a run in the top of the seventh. Fisher started the rally, working a four-pitch walk with two away, then moved all the way to third on a failed pickoff attempt at first. Best followed by ripping an 0-2 pitch back up the middle for a 6-5 score.

The Tar Heels (10-1) seized the momentum back after the seventh inning stretch. Adam Pate led off with a double, then Kyle Datres reached when he was hit by a pitch. A walk loaded the bases and Logan Warmoth blooped a two-run single over a drawn-in infield to push the lead to 8-5.

After a strikeout, Eli Sutherland stepped in a drilled a 3-1 pitch off the light pile in left for an 11-5 lead that would stand the rest of the way.

Andrew Massey (2-1) took the loss for Gardner-Webb, allowing four earned runs in 5.0 innings. He scattered eight singles and walked two. GWU used four relievers to finish off the game.

The 'Dogs managed 10 hits in the game, with Fisher (2-for-3) and Thacker (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) leading the way. Sullivan's home run was his second of the season.

Bogucki (2-0) picked up the win in relief for North Carolina, hurling 2.1 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) with a strikeout. Four different Tar Heels pitched in the game.

North Carolina had 12 hits Tuesday, with Tyler Lynn (3-for-4, RBI) leading the way. Datres (2-for-4, 2 runs) and Warmoth (2-for-5, 2 runs) also had multiple hits in the game.

Gardner-Webb will have little time to rest, as it returns home to host North Carolina A&T on Wednesday at 4:00 pm in Boiling Springs. Live stats will be available via StatBroadcast (GWUStats.com).